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Let’s take action.

Not Just An Ordinary Day

Today was an ordinary Monday. Early morning. Rushing to head off for school on time. Readjusting to the weekly routine.

And then a forced breath and a soft whisper — Slow down.

Snuggles. First words. Story time on the floor by the fire. Bounces on the trampoline. Time out to watch our favorite Disney movie. Moments like these make me smile.

Reaching for big brother in the school yard. Running through the house looking for big sister. Sweeping up a pile of soft blond fluff. Moments like these make my heart swell.

No, today was not just an ordinary day. It was a beautiful day with my babies.

~Just Write

Allowance :: Do Your Children Get One?

photo credit: nickelstar via photopin cc

It’s such a hot topic among parents with older children. Should allowance be given for completing household chores? Should it be given only as a reward for completing extra jobs around the house, or perhaps for not asking anything in return? Should an allowance be given to children at all?

I do believe that children should be taught how to manage money at an early age, but our children do not receive an allowance for doing their regular daily chores. They do, however, earn money in a variety of ways, not only from us, but also from various family members. Babysitting (a Mother’s Helper, really), washing Dad’s car, organizing cabinets and the pantry, helping with trips to the dump; these are all ways they may make some cash. It’s hard earned and well appreciated.

Here’s what my older kiddos had to say about allowance and earning money for completing extra jobs::

“Why would I get paid to help around the house? I should just do it to help the family.” -Ethan, age 11

“I think we should do our chores and not get an allowance. You pay for our food and clothes, and stuff. We should be able to make money in other ways so we can buy the stuff we want, though.” -Zach, age 11

“I like to do extra things to help you and make money for the stuff you don’t buy me.” -Julia, age 9

Do you give your children an allowance? How is it set up for your family? I’d love to hear about it!

Kidworth is a free online tool designed to teach kids financial goal setting. Wether you give your children an allowance or simply reward them for completing extra tasks, it’s a great idea to set up a Kidworth account. You would set up the account and together you and your kids could enter some goals. Whether they’d like to save up for guitar lessons or a donation to the local animal shelter, Kidworth can help them achieve their dreams.

This post was sponsored by Kidworth. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Movie Night

Noah and Ben set up their friends…

But, they didn’t make it through the movie…

Neither did their brothers…

But, Julia and Emma? Wide. Awake.

Giving Back with a Walmart Christmas Toy Haul

Walmart armed us with a $50 gift card and sent us out to purchase some toys. These toys were not for my kiddos, mind you, but to give to kids in need within our community. Since Ray and I are teaching our children the value of giving, this challenge was more than welcome.

So, off we went to find some good deals and fun toys…

I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provided me with compensation for my time and efforts on this post and video. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas… Finally!

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Noah Loves Our Nativity Scene

Timmy's Point of View

Did you publish your favorite picture/s this week? I’d love to see YOUR Wordless Wednesday posts! Link up here::

For more inspiring photos, check out 5 Minutes for Mom, The Bonafide Life, Better in Bulk, Shanamama, Not Your Momblog,The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist, High Impact Mom,BrainFoggles, Rachel Ferrucci and Zensible Mama. Be sure to link your own photo stories, too.

Holiday Entertaining With Giada

We all love to be in the kitchen. Julia and I like to bake yummy treats, while Ray and the boys like to create savory dishes. Ray would actually like to spend more time cooking, and I certainly won’t complain. I always look forward to noshing on his dishes.

Ray was most excited about one of our latest packages. It was a big box of items from Giada De Laurentiis’ Target line… lovely red mixing bowls, shiny measuring cups, white ceramic bakeware and jars of yummy foods. Not only did we have a blast trying a few of Giada’s recipes, but we look forward to using most of these items this weekend, as we celebrate Christmas here at home.

Here is one of Giada’s recipes that we plan to try this Saturday:

Pea Pesto Crostini

Recipe Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

• 1(10oz) package frozen peas, thawed
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 2/3 cup olive oil
• 8 (1/2 inch thick) slices whole grain baguette or ciabatta bread, preferably day old
• 8 cherry tomatoes, halved or 1 small tomato, diced

For the pea pesto:

1. Pulse together in food processor the peas, garlic, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
2. With the machine running, slowly add 1/3 cup of the olive oil and continue to mix until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed.
3. Transfer to small bowl and set aside.

For the crostini:

1. Toast the bread for 2 – 3 minutes on an oven’s broil setting.
2. Transfer bread to platter and spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of pesto on each slice.
3. Top crostini with 2 tomato halves, finely chopped herbs or parmesan cheese and serve.

Yield: 4 – 6 Servings/ 8 crostini

If you are entertaining during this Holiday season, I’m sure these simple entertaining tips from Giada De Laurentiis will be helpful::

• Plan ahead!  Prepare most of your dishes ahead of time, rather than trying to cook everything at once.  You’ll feel less stressed and will be able to enjoy the party.  Giada recommends leaving only one item for last minute prep – this brings everyone into the kitchen and sets the tone for a cozy, comfortable evening.

• Don’t overdo your menu – keep it simple!  As a general rule, Giada suggests offering four to five appetizers.  During the holidays, choose foods that have vibrant colors for an added festive touch.  Also select foods that are beautiful to serve and easy for guests to eat.

• For guests who pop-in unexpectedly, keep ready-to-serve delights in the pantry. Giada’s Genovese Basil Pesto and Eggplant & Pepper Pesto are easy and delicious treats.  Serve with toasted bread or crackers and display on a festive serving platter.

• Create less work for yourself by using multipurpose kitchen tools.  The Giada De Laurentiis for Target Ceramic Bakeware can go directly from the oven to the table.  The bakeware beautifully displays the dish and makes less clean-up for you!  Kitchen and food items also make wonderful gifts.  Add a personal touch to a hostess gift by baking your favorite homemade pie in the Ceramic Pie Pan.

What are your must-have items when working (or playing!) in the kitchen?

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Giada De Laurentiis for Target and received product samples to facilitate my review.

Tips to Help Your Child “Get Back to Happy” on Sick Days

With a family our size, this time of year can be plagued with head colds, flu bugs, and nasty coughs. Late night wakings, cranky mornings, and nap-less afternoons are just par for the course. Sometimes I wish we could all just be sick at the same time and get it over with, but that’s never the way it goes. When one kiddos gets sick we can plan to be sick for days, if not weeks.

I would rather suffer myself than see my little one experience discomfort when feeling ill. Here are some tried and true tips for helping my kiddos stay comfortable, and “get back to happy” when they’re under the weather.  Luckily, with a little imagination and some modern technology, these ideas are sure to help us all feel better.

• King or queen for the day: Create a comfy throne recliner on the bed or on the couch. Grant his or her highness with the TV remote control, special box of tissues, special snacks, etc. You could even let your child pitch a tent in the living room and supply it with a sleeping bag, pillows, flashlight, etc. The key is to create a comfortable place where they will be happy staying put.

• Get Crafty: If your child is up for some crafts, start with a new box of tissues to decorate and personalize with gem stones, markers, stickers, fabric, feathers, and anything else you can find. Leave some plain paper around and this little craft can lead to another art project, affording your child time to relax and stay quiet.

• Get Comfy: It’s not easy to get kids to take medicine so I usually offer my kids a choice of a treat, such as jello or a popcicle, as a reward after taking their medicine. Find medicines, like those from PediaCare, with kid-appealing flavors like grape, cherry or bubble gum. It makes the medicine go down a lot easier.

• Get them Eating: It’s hard to get kids to eat when they have fever and don’t feel well. Offering small portions seems less daunting and they are more likely to pick off the plate.  Offer little bite-sized snacks like grapes, carrot sticks, cheese cubes and apple slices. And, don’t forget fluids. Offer a crazy straw or a special sippy cup to get your child to drink plenty of fluids.

• Get them Laughing: They say laughter is the best medicine. Pull up your lap top and look for funny animal videos on YouTube. Funny animal videos always make us feel better!

• A Mother’s Touch: A little TLC can go a long way. Sometimes just sitting close or taking part in the activities mentioned above can mean a lot to the kids when they aren’t feeling well.  As an added treat, try massaging your child’s feet, aching neck and back for comfort. My kids love the extra attention.

To help get kids back to happy, PediaCare is offering the “Get Back to Happy” Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of four fun prizes! One grand prize includes a two-night stay for four (4) at a participating Great Wolf Lodge® resort valued at $1,100, and all winners will receive a PediaCare ”Get Back to Happy” Family Pack each valued at $350.

Visit the PediaCare web site, www.pediacare.com , to enter the “Get Back to Happy” sweepstakes or for more information about the new acetaminophen dosing changes and a special message from celebrity-pediatrician, Dr. Jim Sears, co-host of the Emmy award-winning medical talk show The Doctors.

I have been commissioned as a Spokesmom for PediaCare and have been compensated for this post. PediaCare infants and children’s over-the-counter medicines are available at drugstores, supermarkets and retailers nationwide. To learn more about the new acetaminophen dosing system for PediaCare or Little Remedies, visit pediacare.com or littleremedies.com.

Great Gifts From The California Wine Club

Do you like to sample new and interesting wines from around California? Or, perhaps you know someone who has everything, but enjoys good wine… What a great gift a shipment (or even an entire club membership) from The California Wine Club would be!

We hadn’t ever heard of the Tulip Hill Winery until The California Wine Club sent their December selection to us.  Turns out it’s in Nice, California, where they make some amazing reds.  (I don’t even know where Nice is, to be honest.)  But, thanks to the club, we experienced the 2009 Cabepulciano (45% Montepulciano and 55% Cabernet Sauvignon).

We aren’t wine connoisseurs by any stretch, but we know what we like.  This red was one of the best we’ve tasted recently and it suited both our palates; Me – sophisticated and refined, Christine - amateurish and inexperienced. Shhhhh…don’t tell her I said that.

The white for December was Tulip Hill’s 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, which was excellent chilled.  We aren’t huge white wine fans, but this was a good one and made for a great starter when a couple of buddies of mine visited…but I did get in a bit of trouble for not waiting for Christine to get home.  Whoops!

Chris and I both think that a membership form The California Wine Club would make a fabulous gift. Not only would it be nice for wine enthusiasts, but would be a fabulous idea for the friend or family member who has everything!

Ooh, and guess what? You can receive a special 10% discount when purchasing gifts from The California Wine Club, just in time for the Holidays! Be sure to use promo code datestodiapers when ordering.

If you would like to try out The California Wine Club, you can use the same promo code and not only will they take off 10% off your first month, but they will also send you an extra bottle of wine in your first month shipment as a special joining offer for being one of our friends. There is no obligation to stay past the first month, but we’re pretty certain you’d want to!

Teaching the Value of Giving

Image: Master isolated images

‘Tis the season to be jolly, right?

Well, the malls are crowded, it’s impossible to find a parking spot at Costco, and our bank accounts are slowly being depleted.

Why? Because we let the importance of stuff overshadow what is really important.

I am just as guilty as the next person. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. But, perhaps this holiday season you and your family can join us in taking a different approach. Instead of focusing on what each of my kids want to receive for Christmas, we plan to discuss with them the importance of giving over receiving, the joy that comes in sharing with those in need, and how this Christmas season is less about the stuff and more about the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

The holidays are a perfect time to teach the importance of charitable giving. This sacrificial act may show itself in many forms and may look different for each family. Some years we have filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, others we have adopted needy families within our community, and yet other times we’ve given our time to bring some cheer to the lonely.

However it looks, sharing with those less fortunate than us can inspire feelings of satisfaction and contentment; pure joy.

Giving back shouldn’t end after this season is over, though. Kidworth – a free tool designed to teach kids financial goal setting – makes meeting goals for giving so easy and worry-free. By choosing a share goal with your children, or in creating your own, you are teaching the value of giving and how important it is to think of others.

In everything I showed you that working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” -Luke (Acts 20:35)

This post was sponsored by Kidworth. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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